Thinking of Singing Lessons? 7 Essential Steps to Help You Choose with Confidence

Taking voice lessons and finding the right vocal coach or singing teacher in a city as massive as Los Angeles can be a daunting task. With so many options and teaching styles available, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. As a professional voice teacher and lifelong vocal student myself, I understand both sides of the experience. Whether you’re brand new to singing or returning after a break, here are seven helpful tips to make the process of finding a great teacher — and sticking with vocal lessons — much easier.

1. Choose a Voice Teacher Close to Home

In Los Angeles, driving across town can easily turn into a 90-minute commitment. To make sure your lessons stay manageable and consistent, look for a vocal coach within about 30 minutes of where you live or work. A short drive can actually become useful pre-lesson time — you can mentally prepare or run through vocal warm-ups in the car. But if the drive becomes too long or frustrating, it can become a reason to skip lessons altogether. The best teacher is one you’ll actually see regularly.

2. Set Up a Dedicated Practice Space for Singing

Before you even start lessons, think about where and when you’ll practice. A quiet space, even a corner of a room, can work well as long as you feel comfortable using it consistently. Ideally, practice should be at least twice the length of your weekly lesson — so for a 30-minute lesson, shoot for an hour of practice each week, broken up however works best for you.

If you’re nervous about being overheard by roommates or family, remember: this is part of the process. Getting used to being heard is a key step in becoming a confident singer.

And good news — normal vocal volume isn’t any louder than a TV. Most neighbors won’t even notice if you’re practicing during normal daytime hours.

3. Decide Between In-Person and Online Voice Lessons

Today, online vocal lessons are more accessible than ever. If you’re focused on basic technique, ear training, pitch accuracy, or musicianship, a virtual setup can work really well — especially with a good microphone and headphones. However, for more advanced technique, resonance work, or subtle adjustments to posture and breath, nothing quite replaces being in the room with your teacher. Many singers actually benefit from doing both at different stages.

4. Try a Few Different Voice Teachers

Not every great teacher is the right fit for your voice or learning style. Some teachers emphasize vowel shape and diction, while others focus on breath control, posture, or expressive phrasing. If you’re just starting out, I suggest trying lessons with at least two or three different teachers. It doesn’t mean you’re being flaky — you’re gathering information about what kind of support you respond to best. Once you find a voice teacher whose style resonates with you, commit fully.

5. Commit to Six Months of Lessons

Learning to sing is like learning any physical skill — it takes time and consistency. In my experience, new students often see fast growth during the first couple of months, followed by a natural plateau around the 10–12 week mark. That dip in momentum can be discouraging if you don’t expect it. But if you stay with it, most singers have a second breakthrough around month five. That’s why I encourage students to commit to at least six months if they can. Real progress happens after the first wave of challenges.

6. Stay Consistent With Your Schedule

The voice is a living instrument, and vocal technique builds like muscle memory. If you can, pick a stretch of six months where you’re not traveling extensively or under unusual stress. Weekly lessons during a steady season will give you the best return on your investment. Consistency doesn’t have to mean perfection — but the more regular you are, the more confident and comfortable your voice will become.

7. Be Kind to Yourself as You Grow

This might be the most important tip. Many adult students are hard on themselves when they don’t progress as quickly as they expect. Meanwhile, kids tend to accept where they are and focus on enjoying the process — and they often make faster progress because of it. Learning to sing is as much about emotional release and confidence as it is about technique. If you can practice without judgment, your voice will open up more easily and you’ll have a lot more fun in the process.

Scofield Studio is currently taking in-person students on Mondays at the Santa Monica location. Click here to contact Jocelyn. Or Click here to read her Yelp Reviews.